Walking with the Rich…….
We live in a very comfortable house in a safe gated
community. I questioned why we would immediately find a house that met all our
needs in this type of neighbourhood.
Wasn’t there something in a less affluent area? The answer keeps on coming back – No, this is
where you should be. So instead of
fighting I have learned to eat my words.
(A word of caution – May all the words you speak be sweet – you may have
to eat them!)
After two years I still struggle with the opulence but I have
learned that I still have to walk – with the rich. For reasons unknown to us, God has given us
this opportunity, this challenge, this blessing.
After the revolution Nicaraguans moved north to United
States and Canada, worked there for many years, and have now retired in their
homeland. Most are well educated, well
read, politically astute and aware of what is happening in the world. Because my Spanish is not the best, I am
hesitant to talk with them but they are patient. When I walk at night I often stop to talk to
these neighbours about the weather or about what is happening. We are developing community.
I am privileged to attend the Bible study in the
neighbourhood. Both Evangelicals and
Catholics join together to discuss the Bible, to learn what it says, and to
delve into its application. Their
openness, their faith, and their vulnerability are humbling. Some are willing to say that they don’t know
the Bible and are eager to learn. Others
are very knowledgeable and are able to quote any Bible text. Together we journey.
We also rub shoulders with other ‘rich’ – fellow
missionaries and others who live in this beautiful country. They are our support group and we are
theirs. We share worship services with
them each Sunday and I attend Bible Study with a wonderful group of women. We
have become the grandparent figures to some children. We have a place.
But that is not our whole life since we also walk with
Those with Less………
Many of our friends and acquaintances would never be
classified as rich if one is talking about personal belongings. They live in smaller, often multi-generational,
homes. Their children may or may not
attend a private Christian school, depending on financial and/or geographical
situations.
One of the leaders from Nehemiah Center related a bit of
their life to some students when comparing their life here with the life of one
of their family members living in USA.
The family in USA have a large, fancy house with a half million dollars
mortgage, a car with a car loan, and credit cards. Their family in Nicaragua
has a small house – but it is theirs; they have a car—and it is paid for. They do not have credit cards. The word that comes to mind is contentment.
Our friends do not have all the material things, but they
are content. I am sure that they would like
different or better things but they do
not appear to ‘strive’ after them. They
are more willing to wait, whether it means waiting until the can afford a
wedding or whether they can afford a new stove.
They welcome you into their homes –‘Me casa es tu casa.’ They love to share their lives with others,
whether family or friends. They love to
have fun. They love parties. They love loud music. They love food. There is always a time to celebrate, to
share, to talk.
And those with still
less
We have not been given the opportunity to work with those
who have nothing but we know that they exist.
We see the old women walking down the middle of the highway with her
belongings on her back. We see the old
man gathering up the bottles and plastic for recycling. Will these people someday become part of our
lives?
We know that each day God brings people into our lives. Sometimes they are meant to be a blessing to
us, other times we are a blessing to them, but most of the time we are mutually
blessed. Living in a transient culture
brings so many people across our paths but we know that they will not stay
forever. Rather than building a wall
around myself and protecting myself from the sadness of losing friends over and
over, I have decided to embrace them, to become vulnerable, to open my life to
them, to live life fully. It has made my
life so much richer. So each day I will
continue to live with the rich, those with less, and those with still
less. But that also means that I live
with those who have some, those who have more and those who have still
more. And that is so true – especially when
it comes to faith and reliance on God. Thank you, Lord, for all the people with
whom I share this journey.
